BC-Rap's Mentorship Program began in December 2002 with the hiring of five long-time KBOO volunteers as mentees to the project.
After an open call to KBOO volunteers, BC-Rap chose Miae Kim, Laura Moulton, Andrew Stelzer, Jessica Stiles and Kate Welch as mentees.
The goals was to follow-through with a feature story about Breast Cancer.
Each chose a topic and story idea and attended workshops with Barbara Bernstein and Dmae Roberts who also were editors for the mentees feature stories.

The stories aired on Locus Focus and on Stage and Studio on KBOO.

Bios and Stories

Asian Women and Breast Cancer
As an Asian American, Miae Kim wanted to raise awareness of breast cancer among Asian American women and to add cultural aspects to the Breast Cancer Arts Project. This story features the Asian Family's outreach program that provides workshops on Breast Cancer to Chinese Americans. Her story highlights obstacles Asian Americans face when they deal with Breast Cancer and hear experience of an Asian American breast cancer survivor,though many Asian American breast cancer survivors remain silent due to their culture.

Laura Moulton is a freelance writer and the editor of Gumball Poetry, which publishes poetry online and into gumball machines across the U.S. She has worked in the news department at KBOO and anchored the news for the past several years. Her documentary piece on homeless men in Southeast Portland was aired on Portland's homeless marathon program in 2000. She has an MFA in writing from Eastern Washington University.

Laura's Mom
Laura Moulton's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and subsequently underwent a double mastectomy. Now almost six years later, Moulton's mother describes the shock of receiving a cancer diagnosis, the treatment options she chose at the time, and thoughts on life after breast cancer.

Andrew Stelzer is an independent radio producer based at KBOO radio in Portland, Oregon. His work has been featured nationally on programs including Free Speech Radio News, Making Contact, Pacificas Peacewatch, Independent Native News, Workers Independent News Service, and Sprouts. Andrew also has extensive experience working with youth on radio projects, and he is a founding member of the Sudden Radio Project, a monthly radio theatre show. Honors received include an excellence in journalism award from the Society of Professional Journalists, and a scholarship to the Narco News School of Authentic Journalism. In his spare time, Andrew has managed a homeless shelter, and you can find him on the basketball court in Laurelhurst park.

Maskmaking Workshop
A group of women gathered to learn how to make masks at a healing arts workshop. For the women who have been dealing with Breast Cancer, learning how to make a mask provided a way for the women to connect and support each other. For Andrew Stelzer learning about Breast cancer was like stepping into a foreign world. Not knowing what to expect, he learned quite a bit about the healing power of art, as well as how wet plaster feels on his face.

Men and Support
Breast Cancer is often seen as a womens issue. But what about the men in those womens lives? Andrew Stelzer talked to two women about how men helped them through this emotional time, and also asked a husband how he thought he did in his role as supporter.

Jessica Stiles a music and public affairs programmer at KBOO FM and has been doing radio since 1997. Recently she was producer host and engineer for a weekly financial news and talk show on Portland station KXL, airing from Oct. 2000 to Oct. 2002. Jessica holds a B.A. in Literature from Yale University and is originally from New York City.

The Squeeze
Just how painful is it having a mammogram done? There is a lot of fear surrounding screening for breast cancer, and denial in that no woman wants to admit it could happen to her. Add to this the reputation of mammography being a painful procedure, and it sure doesn't sound appealing. But early detection often saves lives. Jessica Stiles accompanies her friend Rita McDonagh to an annual mammogram, catching an audio glimpse of the procedure first hand.

Kate Welch is a Home Economist, a photographer, and a volunteer at KBOO community radio in Portland, Oregon. Her work at KBOO includes engineering for evening news and public affairs. She is part of the Food Show and Woman Soul collectives. Her photographs appear on the KBOO web site.

Gusto Women
Care giving is different in every scenario. Resources are often limited, especially help with the activities of daily living. Hilda Bengtson is a single mother of two young adult women. Dawn Cottrell is her friend. Together they have organized a care-giving circle to meet Hilda's needs as she proceeds through the stages of cancer. Their friendship began when they were both therapist and part of a team of mental health workers. Kate Welch talked with both women about their care giving relationship in this piece.